Battle Of Hudson

When he was placed on waivers yesterday, Marty Biron was taken by surprise. Five games into the season, the veteran backup was jettisoned along with Arron Asham. Somehow, the blame has fallen on two bit parts. It doesn’t seem right.

“I’ve got to take some time and think about it,” the 36-year old Biron told reporters Monday after getting the bad news. “There’s many different options that are going to be presented to me and I’ll see what fits the best.”

Sure. He was dreadful in two periods before getting pulled at St. Louis. He allowed two bad goals in a winnable game. The only one in the last three the Rangers competed in. They’d already been humiliated by Sharks rookie Tomas Hertl, who unfairly came under criticism for having the audacity to celebrate his between the legs goal on reliever Biron. The Rangers didn’t stop him. They embarrassed themselves. How did they respond? By going through the motions in a 6-0 blowout defeat at Anaheim. Henrik Lundqvist was in for that. He couldn’t stop anything either. The former Vezina winner has a 4.21 goals against average (GAA) and .887 save percentage. He’s allowed 16 goals on 141 shots.  Hardly what you expect from one of the league’s best. Even with the defense struggling adjusting to Alain Vigneault’s system, he’s taken responsibility. So have teammates for the team’s 1-4-0 start.

“With the way we’re playing, sometimes that happens,” said alternate captain Marc Staal, who’s tied with Dan Girardi for a team worst minus-seven rating. “I don’t know if we need any more wake-up calls but we know, in the room, it’s not acceptable the way we were playing and changes happen.”

“It’s a performance-based business and the organization felt that Marty’s first two performances were not what we expected,” Vigneault analyzed. “I said before, we need a backup that can play 15 to 20 games and play well.”

Maybe the coach might want to look in the mirror. He wants his team to play with a different mindset. For the most part, they did that scoring three against the Blues. Brad Richards’ resurgence continued with a goal and assist. He leads everyone with four goals. At least someone’s confidence is up. Ryan Callahan also scored not once but twice on the power play. Yet they still managed to give up five falling for a third consecutive game. At least the goals against have dropped from nine against San Jose to six against Anaheim to five in St. Loo. They’re heading in the right direction. Vigneault accentuated the positives. That’s fine. But it still doesn’t explain how lost they are defensively. Rather than playing zone as they did under John Tortorella, he wants them to play man with defensemen actively attacking the puck carrier to start a counter. That style is much riskier putting more emphasis on the forwards. There have been too many instances where they haven’t taken the man in front leading to easy goals. Derek Stepan has been victimized and rookie Jesper Fast was on David Backes’ winner Saturday. On the same play, Staal was in no man’s land.

Clearly, they’re not on the same page. When Girardi pointed out that they have to get back to playing the defensive style they used to after the Ducks’ loss, it spoke volumes. If you already have one of your team leaders questioning the shift in strategy four games in, that isn’t encouraging. This is a D that’s used to out-grinding opponents. By also playing a higher tempo, more defensemen are getting caught pinching leading to odd-man rushes. Even Ryan McDonagh has struggled. Maybe it was easier playing a simpler defensive system under Tortorella. He had them get back and make lift difficult by blocking shots and keeping opponents on the perimeter. This made it a lot easier on Lundqvist and even Biron. A defensive scheme is more goalie friendly. The complaint was that it didn’t allow the Rangers to open up the attack. Something Glen Sather wants to see. Not to play devil’s advocate. But haven’t we seen this act before? Maybe the players will adjust and it’ll still be a good season. It’s not like the Metro Division is strong. Only the Pens are off to a good start. Two of the Rangers’ next three opponents New Jersey and Philadelphia have played worse. Their next opponent Washington picked up their second win last night. Columbus, Carolina and the Islanders have been so so. It’s better to struggle now than later.

The Rangers still have four more road games before returning to MSG for the home opener against Montreal on 10/28. On paper, only Detroit is scary. However, they must go out and prove themselves. Start winning. It doesn’t help that Rick Nash (concussion) is on IR. Dating back to last season, they’re 0-5-1 without Nash having been outscored 23-9. With Nash’s status uncertain, it’s up to the rest of the team to figure it out. J.T. Miller was summoned from Hartford. He’ll be back in for tomorrow’s game. Maybe he can provide a spark. It still doesn’t say much when they waived Asham, who was okay. At least he wasn’t taking undisciplined penalties like Derek Dorsett. Asham didn’t deserve this treatment either. It’s no secret they lack toughness. That’s the roster Sather and Vigneault assembled. That’s where the blame belongs.

The Rangers have put Marty Biron and Arron Asham on waivers. The news broke an hour ago with Alain Vigneault breaking the difficult decision to each player. Per Daily News beat writer Pat Leonard who tweeted from the practice facility at Greenburgh.

‏@PLeonardNYDN

Looks as if Vigneault just delivered news of waivers to Biron and Asham separately on ice at end of practice.

It was painfully obvious that Biron was going to be waived. When asked about the likeable veteran backup, Vigneault was noncommittal indicating he didn’t know if he could count on him for 20 starts. In an Olympic year, having a steady backup is important. It’s still sad about Biron, who’s been a great team guy. If he isn’t claimed, his cap hit is $375,000 in the AHL.

Cam Talbot has played well for Hartford winning two of three starts posting a 2.54 goals against average (GAA) and .918 save percentage. He certainly made an impression during preseason with Vigneault giving him a long look. Now, it appears the organization is ready to see what the 26-year old from Ontario can do. It helps that the team is back in the Eastern time zone with a third day to prepare for the Capitals. The schedule isn’t as taxing with the next three games spread out over seven days. They visit the Devils Saturday and then see the Flyers a week from Thursday 10/24. That should allow them to go exclusively with Henrik Lundqvist, who looked sharper stopping 15 of 16 in relief of Biron Saturday.

The schedule picks up at the end of the month with four games in six days starting 10/26 at Detroit before hosting Montreal 10/28, visiting the Islanders 10/29 and returning to MSG on Halloween to battle Buffalo. That’s probably when we’ll see Talbot.

Asham also was waived. His cap hit would be $75,000 if he is assigned. He got into three of the club’s five games. He earned a spot in camp. Another Sather move that didn’t work out. He never replaced Colton Orr. Meanwhile, Orr remains a fixture with the Leafs and takes a regular shift.

Maybe Chris Kreider or J.T. Miller get recalled. Both are off to good starts with the Wolf Pack. Miller has four goals and Kreider has two goals and an assist. Danny Kristo leads them with five points (2-3-5).

Figure something to be announced later.

Backed Out: Marty Biron can’t bare to watch as Blues captain David Backes celebrates a goal.
AP Photo/Bill Boyce

That’s three straight losses. In all three, the Rangers have given up at least five goals or more. They lost to the Blues 5-3 in what at least was an improvement from a competitive standpoint. I’m sure Alain Vigneault is emphasizing the positives along with the MSG spin machine. It’s nice that they showed a pulse offensively scoring three times including two from our beloved captain Ryan Callahan. He scored both on the power play. This isn’t a misprint. Neither is Brad Richards netting his team-leading fourth.

Unfortunately, when you continue to suck at the other aspects, you lose. Right now, the AV Rangers are a losing team who have forgotten how to play in their end. They don’t try too hard on defense and continue to play undisciplined. Coach pet Derek Dorsett took three minor penalties. Two of which resulted in St. Louis goals including Vladimir Tarashenko’s back breaker. For some inexplicable reason, he didn’t miss a shift. Instead, coach clueless rewarded Dorsett with 17 shifts (10:59). Can you imagine this occurring under John Tortorella? He would’ve glued his ass to the bench!

This isn’t the type of hockey anyone pictured when the smoking gun hired his hand picked coach by the media. I could care less how cordial Vigneault is. It’s about WINNING. All we get from him is standing behind the bench chewing gum with the same expression. If your team allowed 9, 6 and 5 during a three-game losing skid that has plenty of fans concerned, wouldn’t you get in some of your players’ faces? Understand he had a much more talented roster in Vancouver. The same one Tortorella is benefiting from. Right now, the Rangers clearly don’t possess the team speed and skill necessary to play his high tempo system. Oh. They gave it a great try. Despite all the mistakes, Richards and Callahan twice pulled them within one. The forecheck was much better the last two periods. But lack of detail and discipline proved fatal.

When you have one of your alternate captains Marc Staal standing around watching guys get to loose pucks and bury them, there’s a problem. Twice, he was beaten. First by Alex Steen, who they turned into an All-Star. He put up four points. The way they spoke of him during the broadcast, you’d have thought Steen was Crosby or Ovechkin. He’s not even as good as his Dad. It’s become a recurring nightmare and we’re only five games in.

The start was predictable with the Blues forming a shooting gallery at Marty Biron getting the first six shots. Eventually, Steen pounced on a T.J. Oshie rebound for the game’s first goal. To their credit, the Rangers came on. After being outshot 10-2, they got nine of the next 11. That included Callahan’s power play goal with six seconds left tying it. On a scramble in front, Derick Brassard set up Callahan who stuffed home a backhand past Jaroslav Halak. Derek Stepan drew the other helper looking better offensively. Defense was another story with a critical giveaway leading to the game-winner by Blues captain David Backes late in the second. You don’t blindly throw the puck back during a four on four. Ever.

These issues continue to plague this team. After a boarding minor in the first, Dorsett took a needless hold for his second penalty. But a Blues bench minor made it even. That’s four on four. It didn’t matter much with Backes taking a Steen feed through center and then going five-hole on Biron from the right circle. A horrible goal. It wasn’t the only one. Trailing 2-1, he allowed a Derek Roy 40-footer to beat him on the power play. Justin Falk was in the box for interference. He was okay the first couple of shifts shoving down that punk Max Lapierre and blocking a shot. But took two minors in 11 shifts (5:16). Well, that was worth it.

Brassard took advantage of a Blues giveaway forcing Halak to leave a rebound which Richards buried cutting it to 3-2. But before we could get too excited, Stepan’s brain cramp killed any momentum. During another four on four in which they came close to tying it, Stepan’s giveaway led to Backes tipping in an Oshie pass at 18:27 restoring a two-goal lead for St. Louis. Just as awful was Staal, who let Backes get behind him and watched. Yet Ron Duguay criticized Jesper Fast. What a joke. What was Staal doing? He’s been dreadful after a good start. The entire D has except for maybe Anton Stralman.

The Blues tried their best to keep the Rangers in it taking bad penalties. A Roy hold early in the third led to Callahan netting his second PPG. Stepan fed Richards at the point whose shot caromed high in the air. A flying Callahan got a piece of it showing the determination you expect from the captain. It was a bizarre goal that should’ve lifted them to victory. Instead, bozo the clown (Dorsett) took a third minor (hi-stick). By then, Henrik Lundqvist was in and was the victim of a Vladimir Tarasenko laser. It took just six seconds. Dorsett did a great job for the other side.

Notes: The Rangers were abysmal on face offs losing 34 of 60. The main culprit was Brian Boyle, who went 3 and 10. Brassard was an even (9-9) and Dominic Moore won 8 of 13. Along with two goals, an assist, a plus-three rating, Backes went 8 and 5. What a leader. His line flanked by Steen and Oshie combined for nine points (3-6-9). There was no answer. … In a losing effort, Callahan (2 PPG), Stepan (2 A), Richards (G, A) and Brassard (2 A) each had two points. … By getting outscored 5-3, the Rangers are now 0-5-1 in games Rick Nash misses. Dating back to last year, opponents have outscored them 23-9. … Rangers (1-4-0) get three days off and come home before headed to D.C. Wednesday to face the Caps (1-4-0). Then visit other struggling division rivals the Devils (0-2-3) and Flyers (1-5-0).

So much for keeping any line the same. Alain Vigneault has opted to dress Justin Falk. He’ll make his Rangers debut in an hour. Falk replaces Arron Asham. That means seven defensemen are playing and only 11 forwards.

Vigneault hasn’t been pleased with John Moore’s play, who admitted he needs to pick it up. Everyone was anointing him in camp as the guy to watch. But it’s easy to forget Moore is a young player without much NHL experience. Maybe we should’ve expected him to take a step back. It’s only four games in and the new coach wants to have an extra D opting for defense over offense. Maybe AV is starting to realize the personnel isn’t suited for his up tempo style. Well, at least not yet.

The team’s depth is already in question. While the prospects develop at Hartford, he’s stuck icing a stale lineup. That means the Rangers have to win the old way. By out grinding and outworking opponents. Against a strong team in a hostile environment, this has the recipe of a disaster. Guess we’ll see how it works out.

Marty Biron hopes to be all smiles in camp battle with Johan Hedberg.
http://www.metro.us

Nothing has gone right the last two games. Having been outscored 15-2 in San Jose and Anaheim, the Rangers pay a visit to St. Louis tonight. The latest challenge during a grueling nine-game road trip that has them off to a 1-3-0 start. The Blues have won their first three outscoring opponents 14-4. They’re looking to make franchise history by starting 4-0 for the first time.

With Henrik Lundqvist pelted for six by the Sharks, Marty Biron gets the call tonight. He made an appearance in relief allowing five goals. That included rookie Tomas Hertl’s exclamation point that still has the hockey world a buzz. If Alain Vigneault is looking for a spark, he’s banking on the team to play more inspired in front of the popular backup. Either they’ll lift their play and rally around him or continue to look like they’ve never played organized hockey. This from a group mostly intact following the dismissal of task master John Tortorella.

“We’re being tested as a group, being challenged, and it’s up to me as head coach to get this team to play well and that’s what I’m going to do,” Vigneault said of a struggling roster playing their fifth game in nine days on the road.

Maybe the coach can do a better job managing what he’s got. They’ll again be minus Rick Nash, who is back in New York with a concussion. For a second straight game, he’s changed the lines. Derick Brassard centers the top line with Brad Richards and Ryan Callahan. In the most eye opening move, Brian Boyle has replaced Derek Stepan as the number two center where he’ll play with Benoit Pouliot and rookie Jesper Fast. Stepan moves down to the third unit with Taylor Pyatt and Mats Zuccarello. The fourth line of Dominic Moore, Derek Dorsett and Arron Asham remains intact.

The numbers are ugly. Pouliot and Zuccarello don’t have a point. In three games since returning, Callahan is also without a point and minus-five. Stepan is minus-seven and was disappointed with his performance labeling the recent loss “the worst of his career.”

“There’s just no pride going on right now in our defensive zone,” Callahan scolded. “I think turnovers in the neutral zone cost us pretty big, especially against a team that can create so much offense in transition. Once again, we weren’t good enough.”

The defense has been so shoddy that Vigneault redid the pairings. Marc Staal and Dan Girardi will play together a second consecutive game while Ryan McDonagh teams with Anton Stralman, who Vigneault singled out as their best defenseman. Mike Del Zotto and John Moore comprise the third pair. In particular, the top four were brutal the last two games. NHL Network broke it down further the other night.

WHERE’S THE D?

Plus/Minus        Giveaways

Del Zotto        -6                            2

Girardi            -5                            1

McDonagh     -4                            1

Staal                -5                            5

“Our puck management is not very good right now,” Girardi said. “We’re just giving pucks away. We’re not getting all the way down under their hash marks and making them go down and get it and try to get it down our end again. We’re making life easy on other teams. They’re playing it whatever they want. They’re just coming out of the zone freely, cycling on us, and we’ve got to find a way to get the puck out of our zone as fast as we can and create some offensive zone pressure, take the onus off the defense a little bit.”

The root of the problem is they’re having trouble adjusting to Vigneault’s system. There have been too many instances where players are caught up ice leading to breakouts. Even worse, the zone coverage has been abominable. When your best players are making fundamental mistakes going to the same player leaving someone open in front, it doesn’t matter who’s in net. Lundqvist has allowed 15 goals so far posting a hideous 4.30 GAA and .879 save percentage. Biron permitted five goals on 21 shots and enters with a laughable 9.78 GAA and .762 save percentage. It can’t get any worse or can it?

Of the current roster, only two players aren’t minus. Boyle and Nash are both even. Unfortunately, we don’t know when the latter will return. That’s our top finisher. When the Rangers were without him for four games last year, they went 0-3-1 and were outscored 12-6. They’re still without Carl Hagelin, who remains on long term injured reserve and won’t be available until Oct. 29 when they visit the Islanders.

Rumor has it this was the latest team that humiliated the Rangers.
fanpop.com

Ducks fly together was Coach Bombay’s slogan in The Mighty Ducks. For at least the NHL version, that’s true. These Ducks also flew together quacking the hell out of the Rangers 6-0 at The Pond. It was a game so uncompetitive that it begged the early thought, ‘What the heck is wrong with the Alain Vigneault Rangers?’

I don’t want to answer it. I’m still a bit dizzy from watching the Giants latest loss and then dazed and confused by the Rangers. Yes. Rick Nash flew back to New York to be evaluated. He’ll miss the game at St. Louis too. Whatever. What difference does it make? When you put out no effort following the Hertl humiliation, what exactly does that say? This team has been out of synch since preseason. For some reason, Vigneault insisted on keeping too many players hurting team chemistry. Now, they’re paying the price.

How do you come off a 9-2 debacle in which nerdy analysts and hypocritical Caps coach Adam Oates are taking unwarranted shots at Tomas Hertl and then respond with another listless effort? I always said the start was going to be tough due to the insane Western trip against quality opponents. But at what point does it end? Who expects this team to go into St. Louis and win? Seriously.

In three defeats, the Rangers have allowed 19 goals. Almost unthinkable for a team that played air tight defense under former coach John Tortorella. Even if you want to use the Vigneault system as an excuse like MSG does, it doesn’t fly. Not when you have the same six defensemen and almost an identical roster. These guys haven’t forgotten how to play hockey? Though by the looks of it, you’d think they were in pee wee. Right now, the AV Blueshirts resemble the Ron Low Rangers. Even the best players are screwing up. I can’t remember seeing Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi beaten so badly.

It doesn’t matter who scored the six Ducks goals. Anyone could have. Bruce Boudreau could have iced the Oreo Line, Charlie Conway, Adam Banks and Aberman. This was unacceptable. Even if Teemu Selanne got one of the six and set up another, it’s past the point of embarrassing. That isn’t a hockey team right now. Ryan Callahan said, “I expected a little more out of this group after San Jose.”

What’s left? Most disturbing is not once did a coach who took the Canucks to within an eyelash of the Stanley Cup use his timeout. And Henrik Lundqvist played the entire game. For what purpose? Probably as much as icing a roster with Derek Dorsett. I could care less if he scored a nice goal the other night. He is one dumb hockey player. The Rangers don’t need selfish players who are only about themselves. They need guys who play smart hockey. That means back checks and hustling like Mats Zuccarello and Dom Moore, who continued to compete at the end.

Right now, the Rangers are facing their first crisis. They can continue to skate like chickens without heads and return to MSG with a dreadful record. Or they can pick themselves up and stop the bleeding. The choice is theirs.